Gripping tool



J. P. LYNCH GRIPPING TOOL Dec. 13, 1938.

Filed July 15, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Jazmfiz mh,

A iiomeys J. P LYNCH GRIPPING TOOL Dec. 13, 1938.

2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 15, 1958 I Inventor t/b/zaflyizciz,

' By Attorneys Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,140,430 GRIPPING r0014 John P. Lynch, Somerset, Mass. Application July 13, 1938-, Serial No. 219,093 3' Claims. (01; 294-53) My invention relates to improvements in gripping tools for removing matter such as dirt from sewer boxes, post holes, or the like.

The invention is designed with a particular purpose in view of providing a practical, easily manipulative tool of the character above indicated and which is inexpensive to manufacture and especially designed for lowering into holes, or boxes, and for gripping a load of dirt or other matter to be removed therefrom.

To the accomplishment of the above, and subordinate objects presently appearing, the preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, set

forth in detail in the succeeding description, and

defined in the claims appended hereto.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my improved gripping tool,

Figure 2 is a plan View of the upper end of the tool drawn to an enlarged scale,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

Figure 4 is a similar view of the lower end of the tool,

Figure 5 is a view in transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 looking downwardly, and

Figure 6 is a detail View in transverse section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, the tool of my invention comprises a tubular shank I having threaded onto the upper and lower ends thereof a pair of upper and lower frusto-conical couplings 2 and 3. The lower coupling 3 has threaded thereinto the upper tubular end 4 of a fixed jaw member 5 depending from said end 4 and of shovel-like form. The fixed jaw 5 is provided at opposite sides thereof with a pair of ears 6. Opposed to the fixed jaw 5 is a movable jaw I also of shovel-like form and having apair of ears 8 extending from opposite sides thereof and by means of which, and a pivot pin 9 said movable jaw 'i is swingably mounted by means of ears 5 on the fixed jaw 5 for movement toward and away from the same.

The movable jaw is operated by means as: follows. A hand grip member III of tubular form is threaded at one end into the upper coupling 2,

said hand grip member I0 being provided adjacent its other end with a circumferential groove II oblique to the axis of said member ID. Ex-

tending axially from the grooved end of the hand grip member I0 is a tubular head l2 having an inner end telescoping over said grooved end of the member III and provided with a lug I3 fitting into the groove I I and inclined in correspondence with said groove. The outer end of the head I2 is closed with the exception of an axial bore I4 extending to said ends and is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed laterally extending lugs I5 for a purpose presently described. An operating rod I6 extends through the head I2, the hand grip member II], the shank I, and the upper 10 end 4 of the fixed jaw 5, said rod having an upper end fitting in the bore I4 and secured to said head against endwise movement relative thereto by means of a pair of nuts IT at opposite sides of the closed end of said head with washers I8 15 interposed therebetween and between said sides.

A cap member I9 secured to the ears I 5 by screws 20 and having a dome-shaped center 2| covers the outer end of the rod I6 and prevents injury to the hands from contact with the nut I1 on that 20 side of the head I2. The lower end of the rod I6 is operatively connected to the movable jaw I by a loose connection, as at 22, so that endwise movement of the rod I6 in opposite directions swings the movable jaw 1 toward and from the 25 fixed jaw 5.

As will now be seen the upper end of the rod I6 is rotatably mounted in the head I2 but fixed thereto against longitudinal or endwise movement relative to. the same. Also the head I2 is 30 rotatable on the hand grip member ID and the lug I3 cooperates with the groove I I under such rotation to cam said head endwise in opposite direction as desired. Hence as will be clear the operator or user of the tool may by grasping the hand 35 grip I0 and rotating the head I2 in the proper direction effect endwise movement of the rod IE to move the movable jaw so as to grip between the same and the fixed jaw a load of material to be lifted from the hole or box as the case may be. 40

My invention will, it is believed, be readily understood from the foregoing without further explanation.

Manifestly the invention as described is susceptible of modification without departing from the 45 inventive concept and right is herein reserved to such modifications as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A tool of the class described comprising a 50 tubular shank, a fixed shovel-like jaw member extending from one end of said shank, a second similar jaw member swingably mounted on said fixed member, and means for swinging said second member including a head mounted on the other end of said shank for rotation thereon and movement longitudinally thereof, coacting camming devices on said shank and head, respectively, for moving said head longitudinally under rotation thereof, and an operating connection between said head and second jaw for imparting swinging movement to the latter under longitudinal movement of the head.

2. A tool of the class described comprising a tubular shank, a fixed shovel-like jaw member extending from one end of said shank, a second similar jaw member swingably mounted on said fixed member, and means for swinging said second member including a head mounted on the other end of said shank for rotation thereon and movement longitudinally thereof, coacting camming devices on said shank and head, respectively, for moving said head longitudinally under rotation thereof, and an operating connection between said head and second jaw for imparting swinging movement to the latter under longitudinal movement of the head, said devices comprising a groove in said shank oblique to the axis thereof and a lug on said head engaging said groove.

3. A tool of the class described comprising a tubular shank, a fixed shovel-like jaw member extending from one end of said shank, a second similar jaw member swingably mounted on said fixed member, and means for swinging said second member including a head mounted on the other end of said shank for rotation thereon and movement longitudinally thereof, coacting camming devices on said shank and head, respectively, for moving said head longitudinally under rotation thereof, and an operating connection between said head and second jaw for imparting swinging movement to the latter under longitudinal movement of the head, said devices comprising a groove in said shank oblique to the axis thereof and a lug on said head engaging said groove, and said operating connection being a rod pivotally connected to said second jaw member and endwise movable by said head.

JOHN P. LYNCH. 

